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Annual Ambient AirAssessment Report2014
Arizona Department of
Environmental QualityAir Quality DivisionAir Assessment SectionAugust2015Publication Number:
OFR-15-06
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................... ii
List of Figures ................................................................................................................................................ v
List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................ vi
Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................... viii
Section I Introduction to ADEQs Ambient Air Monitoring Program ....................................................... 12
1.0 Purpose and Background .................................................................................................................. 12
2.0 Standards and Guidelines ................................................................................................................. 13
2.1 Air Quality Index ........................................................................................................................... 13
2.2 National Ambient Air Quality Standards ....................................................................................... 14
2.3 Monitoring Objectives .................................................................................................................. 16
3.0 Quality Assurance ............................................................................................................................. 194.0 Monitoring Location Summary ......................................................................................................... 21
Section II Criteria Pollutants ..................................................................................................................... 24
1.0 Carbon Monoxide (CO) ..................................................................................................................... 24
1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................... 24
1.2 Monitoring Methods ..................................................................................................................... 25
1.3 Compliance/Summary of Design Values ....................................................................................... 25
1.4 Trends ........................................................................................................................................... 27
1.5 Air Quality Index (AQI) .................................................................................................................. 29
2.0 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) ..................................................................................................................... 30
2.1 Background ................................................................................................................................... 30
2.2 Monitoring Methods ..................................................................................................................... 31
2.3 Compliance/Summary of Design Values ....................................................................................... 31
2.4 Trends ........................................................................................................................................... 33
2.5 Air Quality Index (AQI) .................................................................................................................. 35
3.0 Ozone (O3) ......................................................................................................................................... 36
3.1 Background ................................................................................................................................... 36
3.2 Monitoring Methods ..................................................................................................................... 37
3.3 Compliance/Summary of Design Values ....................................................................................... 37
3.4 Trends ........................................................................................................................................... 40
3.5 Air Quality Index (AQI) .................................................................................................................. 41
4.0 Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) ........................................................................................................................... 43
4.1 Background ................................................................................................................................... 43
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4.2 Monitoring Methods ..................................................................................................................... 44
4.3 Compliance/Summary of Design Values ....................................................................................... 44
4.4 Trends ........................................................................................................................................... 46
4.5 Air Quality Index (AQI) .................................................................................................................. 49
5.0 Particulate Matter Smaller Than 10 Microns (PM10) ........................................................................ 51
5.1 Background ................................................................................................................................... 51
5.2 Monitoring Methods ..................................................................................................................... 52
5.3 Compliance/Summary of Design Values ....................................................................................... 53
5.4 Trends ........................................................................................................................................... 56
5.5 Air Quality Index (AQI) .................................................................................................................. 59
6.0 Particulate Matter Smaller Than 2.5 Microns (PM2.5) ....................................................................... 63
6.1 Background ................................................................................................................................... 63
6.2 Monitoring Methods ..................................................................................................................... 64
6.3 Compliance/Summary of Design Values ....................................................................................... 64
6.4 Trends ........................................................................................................................................... 67
6.5 Air Quality Index (AQI) .................................................................................................................. 69
7.0 Lead (Pb) ........................................................................................................................................... 71
7.1 Background ................................................................................................................................... 71
7.2 Monitoring Methods ..................................................................................................................... 72
7.3 Compliance/Summary of Design Values ....................................................................................... 72
7.4 Trends ........................................................................................................................................... 747.5 Air Quality Index (AQI) .................................................................................................................. 74
Section III Non-Criteria Pollutants ............................................................................................................ 75
1.0 Chemical Speciation Network (CSN)................................................................................................. 75
1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................... 75
1.2 Monitoring Methods ..................................................................................................................... 76
1.3 Graphs ........................................................................................................................................... 76
1.4 Trends ........................................................................................................................................... 79
2.0 National Air Toxics Trends Stations (NATTS) ..................................................................................... 80
2.1 Background ................................................................................................................................... 80
2.2 Monitoring Methods ..................................................................................................................... 80
2.3 Tables ............................................................................................................................................ 81
2.4 Trends ........................................................................................................................................... 83
3.0 Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations (PAMS) ................................................................ 87
3.1 Background ................................................................................................................................... 87
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3.2 Monitoring Methods ..................................................................................................................... 88
3.3 Trends ........................................................................................................................................... 89
Section IV Visibility ................................................................................................................................... 90
1.0 Urban Haze ........................................................................................................................................ 90
1.1 Program Background .................................................................................................................... 911.2 Monitoring Methods ..................................................................................................................... 91
1.3 Trends ........................................................................................................................................... 92
2.0 IMPROVE ........................................................................................................................................... 97
Appendix I Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................... 98
Appendix II References .......................................................................................................................... 100
Appendix III 2014 Area Designations Map ............................................................................................. 101
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List of Figures
Figure 1 Chart of AQI Levels ..................................................................................................................... 13
Figure 2 The locations of ADEQs monitoring sites .................................................................................. 23
Figure 3 Map of ADEQs CO sites ............................................................................................................. 24
Figure 4 CO One-Hour Average Trend ..................................................................................................... 27
Figure 5 CO Eight-Hour Average Trend .................................................................................................... 28
Figure 6 CO Daily AQI 2014 ...................................................................................................................... 29
Figure 7 Map of ADEQs NO2 sites............................................................................................................ 30
Figure 8 NO2Annual Mean Trend ............................................................................................................ 33
Figure 9 NO2One-Hour Average Trend .................................................................................................... 34
Figure 10 NO2Daily AQI 2014 .................................................................................................................. 35
Figure 11 Map of ADEQs O3 sites ............................................................................................................ 36
Figure 12 O3Eight-Hour Average Trend ................................................................................................... 40
Figure 13 O3Daily AQI 2014 Central/Southern Region ......................................................................... 41Figure 14 O3Daily AQI 2014 Northern Region ...................................................................................... 42
Figure 15 Map of ADEQs SO2 sites .......................................................................................................... 43
Figure 16 SO2One-Hour Average Trend for Miami and Hayden Areas ................................................... 47
Figure 17 SO2One-Hour Average Trend for JLG Supersite ...................................................................... 48
Figure 18 SO2Annual Average Trend ....................................................................................................... 48
Figure 19 SO2Daily AQI 2014 ................................................................................................................... 49
Figure 20 SO2Daily AQI 2014 - Miami Area ............................................................................................. 50
Figure 21 Map of ADEQs PM10 sites ........................................................................................................ 51
Figure 22 PM10Annual Mean Average for the Southern Region ............................................................. 56
Figure 23 PM10Annual Mean Average for the Northern Region ............................................................. 57Figure 24 PM10Annual Mean Average for the Central Region ................................................................ 58
Figure 25 PM10Daily AQI 2014 - South/Central Region ........................................................................... 60
Figure 26 PM10Daily AQI 2014 - Southeastern Region ............................................................................ 60
Figure 27 PM10Daily AQI 2014 - Northern Region ................................................................................... 61
Figure 28 PM10Daily AQI 2014 - Central Region ...................................................................................... 62
Figure 29 Map of ADEQs PM2.5 sites ....................................................................................................... 63
Figure 30 Nogales Post Office monitoring station. .................................................................................. 64
Figure 31 PM2.5Annual Mean Trend ........................................................................................................ 67
Figure 32 PM2.524-Hour Average Trend .................................................................................................. 68
Figure 33 PM2.5Daily AQI 2014 - Southern Region .................................................................................. 69Figure 34 PM2.5Daily AQI 2014 - Central/Northern Region ..................................................................... 70
Figure 35 Map of ADEQs Pb sites ............................................................................................................ 71
Figure 36 Pb Three-Month Average ......................................................................................................... 74
Figure 37 2014 Annual Averages for Speciated PM2.5.............................................................................. 77
Figure 38 2014 Quarterly Averages for Speciated PM2.5 ......................................................................... 78
Figure 39 Speciated PM2.5Annual Average Trend ................................................................................... 79
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Figure 40 VOC Annual Mean Trend (0.0-1.4 ppb) .................................................................................... 83
Figure 41 VOC Annual Mean Trend (0.00-0.25 ppb) ................................................................................ 84
Figure 42 Aldehydes Annual Mean Trend ................................................................................................ 85
Figure 43 Benzo (A) Pyrene Annual Mean Trend ..................................................................................... 86
Figure 44 Naphthalene Annual Mean Trend ............................................................................................ 86
Figure 45 TNMOC Annual Mean Trend .................................................................................................... 89
Figure 46 Pleasant Valley monitoring station. ......................................................................................... 90
Figure 47 Transmissometer Visual Range (All Hours) Trend .................................................................... 93
Figure 48 Transmissometer Visual Range (Morning Hours) Trend .......................................................... 93
Figure 49 Transmissometer Seasonal Average Trend .............................................................................. 94
Figure 50 Nephelometer Visual Range Trend .......................................................................................... 95
Figure 51 Examples of Visual Condition in Phoenix. ................................................................................ 96
List of Tables
Table 1 Current NAAQS ............................................................................................................................ 15
Table 2 Site Index ..................................................................................................................................... 21
Table 3 History of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for CO ................................................... 26
Table 4 CO One-Hour Compliance Summary ........................................................................................... 26
Table 5 CO Eight-Hour Compliance Summary .......................................................................................... 27
Table 6 CO Daily AQI Count 2014 ............................................................................................................. 29
Table 7History of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for NO2................................................. 31
Table 8 NO2Annual Mean Compliance Summary .................................................................................... 32
Table 9 NO2One-Hour Compliance Summary ......................................................................................... 33
Table 10 NO2Daily AQI Count 2014 ......................................................................................................... 35Table 11 History of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for O3.................................................. 38
Table 12 O3Compliance Summary ........................................................................................................... 39
Table 13 O3Daily AQI Count 2014 ........................................................................................................... 41
Table 14History of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for SO2................................................ 44
Table 15 SO2One-Hour Compliance Summary ........................................................................................ 45
Table 16 SO2Three-Hour Compliance Summary ..................................................................................... 46
Table 17 SO2Daily AQI Count 2014 .......................................................................................................... 49
Table 18 History of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM10.............................................. 53
Table 19 PM10Compliance Summary ....................................................................................................... 55
Table 20 PM10Daily AQI Count 2014 - Southern Region ......................................................................... 59Table 21 PM10Daily AQI Count 2014 - Northern and Central Region ...................................................... 61
Table 22 History of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM2.5............................................. 65
Table 23 PM2.5Annual Average Compliance Summary ............................................................................ 65
Table 24 PM2.524-Hour Average Compliance Summary .......................................................................... 66
Table 25 PM2.5Daily AQI Count 2014 ....................................................................................................... 69
Table 26 History of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Pb ................................................. 73
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Table 27 Pb Compliance Summary........................................................................................................... 73
Table 28 Air Toxics Data for JLG Supersite ............................................................................................... 82
Table 29 Air Toxics Data for South Phoenix ............................................................................................. 82
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Executive Summary
The purpose of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Annual Ambient Air
Assessment Report is to serve as an informational and technical document for use within ADEQ, other
state and local agencies, and health organizations such as the American Lung Association. This report
summarizes the air monitoring activities and the results of air quality monitoring conducted by ADEQ in
2014. Monitor locations, purpose of monitoring, and monitoring methods are discussed. Also included
are area/monitor compliance values based on air monitoring conducted by ADEQ in 2014, an overview
of long-term monitoring concentrations, and Air Quality Index (AQI) values.
Data from 42 ADEQ air monitoring sites located throughout Arizona are included in this report. Many of
the sites have multiple instruments measuring a variety of gaseous, particulate, meteorological, and
visibility parameters.
Criteria Pollutants
The majority of the ADEQs air quality measurements are for criteria pollutants (carbon monoxide (CO),
nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM10and PM2.5), and lead
(Pb)) classified as State and Local Air Monitoring Stations (SLAMS) used for regulatory compliance. To
show regulatory compliance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established National
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). These standards are the concentrations at which each
pollutant becomes harmful to human health and are unique to each pollutant.
Compliance statuses are presented in this document for informational purposes only and are considered
preliminary. For each of the criteria pollutants the preliminary compliance status, along with the general
trend and a 2014 air quality index (AQI) summary, are provided below:
CO
o In compliance with the NAAQS.
o 78.2% decreasing trend for JLG Supersite from 1999-2014.
o AQI values for 2014:
Site Good Days Missing Days
JLG Supersite 339 26
NO2
o
In compliance with the NAAQS.o 48.1% decreasing trend for JLG Supersite from 1999-2014.
o AQI values for 2014:
Site Good Days Moderate Days Missing Days
JLG Supersite 354 5 6
Alamo Lake* 174 0 10
*184 possible monitoring days.
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O3
o Two sites in violation of the NAAQS: JLG Supersite and Yuma Supersite.
o 6.5% average decreasing trend for Tonto National Monument, Queen Valley, JLG Supersite, and
Alamo Lake from 2005-2014.
o AQI values for 2014:
SiteGood
Days
Moderate
Days
Unhealthy for
Sensitive Groups
Days
Missing
Days
JLG Supersite 292 67 4 2
Central/Southern Seasonal
monitors* (averages)196 44 2 3
Northern Seasonal
monitors* (averages)199 39 2 5
*Operated March-October; 245 possible monitoring days.
SO2
o Two sites in violation of the NAAQS: Hayden Old Jail and Miami Ridgeline.
o
48.6% decreasing trend for JLG Supersite from 2005-2014; 2.1% decreasing trend for MiamiRidgeline from 1999-2014; 92.4% decreasing trend for Hayden Old Jail from 1975-1991 and then
21.0% increasing trend from 1999-2014.
o AQI values for 2014:
SiteGood
Days
Moderate
Days
Unhealthy for
Sensitive Groups
Days
Unhealthy
Days
Missing
Days
JLG Supersite 363 0 0 0 2
Alamo Lake* 248 0 0 0 27
Hayden Old Jail 186 95 77 7 0
Miami Area
(averages)268 50 38 6 3
*275 possible monitoring days.
PM10
o Five sites in violation of the NAAQS (preliminary, based on incomplete data completeness):
Douglas Red Cross, Paul Spur Chemical Lime Plant, Rillito, Nogales Post Office, and Yuma
Supersite.
o Majority of sites have less than 2% variation in the annual mean concentrations since the late
1990s to 2014.
o AQI values for 2014:
SiteGood
Days
Moderate
Days
Unhealthy for
Sensitive Groups
Days
Unhealthy
Days
Very
Unhealthy
Days
Missing
Days
Southern
Region
(averages)
304 42 2.5
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PM2.5
o In compliance with the NAAQS.
o 35.4% average decreasing trend for Douglas Red Cross, JLG Supersite, and Nogales Post Office
from 1999-2014.
o
AQI values for 2014:
SiteGood
Days
Moderate
Days
Unhealthy for
Sensitive Groups
Days
Unhealthy
Days
Missing
Days
Southern Region
(averages)302 43
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PAMS
o 52.2% decreasing trend in the Total Non-Methane Organic Compound (TNMOC) concentrations
at JLG Supersite from 2008-2014 and 11.4% decreasing trend in TNMOC at Queen Valley from
2007-2014.
Visibility
Further monitoring includes special continuous monitoring for the optical/visual characteristics of the
atmosphere under the urban visibility network required by House Bill 2538 of the Forty-fifth AZ State
Legislature. A description of the trends observed at each visibility instrument is provided below:
Phoenix Transmissometer
o 53% increase in the mean visual range (or 14.9 miles) for all hours from 1995-2014.
o 43% increase in the mean visual range (or 11.6 miles) in the morning hours from 1995-2014.
o Between 27% and 38% increase in the mean visual range for winter, spring, summer, and fall
from 2006-2014.
Nephelometero 48% increase in the mean visual range (or 42.4 miles) for Vehicle Emissions Laboratory (VEL)
from 2006-2014.
o 19% increase in the mean visual range (or 21.7 miles) for Estrella from 2006-2014.
o 5% increase in the mean visual range (or 6.7 miles) for Dysart from 2006-2014.
Additionally, ADEQ serves as an operator for the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual
Environments (IMPROVE) which tracks visual conditions in and around national parks and monuments,
as well as in some urban areas.
Conclusion
Overall, monitoring data collected by ADEQ in 2014 continued the decreasing trends in many of the
criteria pollutants, including CO, NO2, O3, PM2.5, and most of the SO2monitors. There was little variation
in PM10concentrations in 2014, and Pb concentrations will be further analyzed with additional years of
data. The total average of the AQI values for monitors operated by ADEQ indicated that 84% of the
days in 2014 were Good days. A summary of the percentage of Good days for each pollutant is
listed below:
Between 90% and 99% for CO, NO2, and SO2monitors at JLG Supersite and Alamo Lake;
Approximately 90% for PM10and PM2.5monitors in the Central/Northern Region;
Approximately 83% for PM10and PM2.5monitors in the Southern Region;
Slightly over 80% for O3monitors throughout the state;
Approximately 73% for SO2monitors in the Miami area; and
51% for the SO2monitor at Hayden Old Jail.
Similar to the criteria pollutants, decreasing trends were also continued for non-criteria pollutants,
including VOCs, Aldehydes, Benzo[A]Pyrene, Naphthalene, and TNMOC. With reductions in air pollutant
concentrations over the years, visibility measurements made by ADEQ showed great improvements
with increased visual range.
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Section I Introduction to ADEQs
Ambient Air Monitoring Program
1.0
Purpose and Background
The ADEQ Annual Ambient Air Assessment Report summarizes the air monitoring activities and the
results of air quality monitoring conducted by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
for the calendar year 2014. This report shows monitor locations, purpose of monitoring, and monitoring
methods. Also included is an overview of long-term monitoring concentrations, Air Quality Index (AQI)
values, and area/monitor compliance values based on air monitoring conducted by ADEQ in 2014. The
purpose of this report is to serve as an informational and technical document intended for use within
ADEQ, other state and local agencies, and health organizations such as the American Lung Association.
Data from 42 sites located throughout Arizona are included in this report. Many of the sites havemultiple instruments measuring a variety of gaseous, particulate, meteorological, and visibility
parameters. The majority of the air quality measurements are for criteria pollutants (carbon monoxide
(CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM10and PM2.5), and
lead (Pb)) classified as State and Local Air Monitoring Stations (SLAMS) used for regulatory compliance.
To show regulatory compliance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). These standards are the concentrations at which each
pollutant becomes harmful to human health and are unique to each pollutant.
In addition to sampling for criteria pollutants, ADEQ does special continuous monitoring for the
optical/visual characteristics of the atmosphere under the urban visibility network required by House Bill2538 of the Forty-fifth AZ State Legislature. Further monitoring includes manual sampling of O3forming
compounds and other hazardous air pollutants, and speciated particulate matter sampling under the
Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations (PAMS), Chemical Speciation Network (CSN), National
Air Toxics Trends Stations (NATTS) and National Core (NCore) Monitoring Network. ADEQ also oversees
industrial networks to determine the effects of their emissions on local air quality and how well
pollution control technologies are working. Additionally, ADEQ serves as an operator for the
Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) which tracks visual conditions in
and around national parks and monuments, as well as in some urban areas. Lastly, ADEQ operates a
network of portable particulate monitors for public awareness to provide information regarding
pollutant levels from wildfires and wood burning.
Air monitoring is commonly classified by networks based on individual pollutants or by a group of
related pollutants. Monitoring networks for ambient air quality are established to sample pollution in a
variety of settings representative of different populations and geographical areas, to assess health and
welfare effects, and to assist in determining air pollution sources. The ambient monitoring networks
cover both urban and rural areas of the state and are composed of one or more monitoring sites whose
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data are compared to the NAAQS for compliance and statistically analyzed for trends analysis. ADEQ
also tracks data recovery, quality control, and quality assurance parameters for the instruments
operated at its various sites. Most of the sites within each network also measure meteorological variables.
ADEQ networks monitor a wide variety of pollutant and atmospheric characteristics including urban,
industrial, rural, transport, and background surveillance.
2.0Standards and Guidelines
The Federal Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970 required EPA to assist states and local agencies in establishing
ambient air quality monitoring networks to characterize human health exposure and public welfare
effects from criteria pollutants. The way public welfare is measured is by analyzing ambient air
conditions using a variety of instruments specifically designed to measure a certain pollutant. These
instruments show pollution concentrations for a given time period and identify certain concentrations
which can affect human health. Because different concentrations of pollutants affect human health at
different levels, an Air Quality Index (AQI) is used for showing when a specific concentration can be bad
for human health.
For data completeness, EPA requires 75 percent valid data recovery over a set time period for values
to be considered valid. This applies to the scales of hourly, daily, quarterly, and yearly, for which each
averaging period must be 75 percent complete. For regulatory purposes, if all quarters for the year
have completeness percent greater than 75 percent, then completeness criteria are met and data may
be used for area designations.
2.1 Air Quality Index
The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality to the generalpopulation. It indicates how clean or polluted the air is, and what
associated health effects might be of concern for that day. The
AQI focuses on health effects that may be experienced within a
few hours or days after breathing polluted air. The EPA
calculates the AQI for the criteria air pollutants regulated by the
CAA: ground-level O3, PM10, PM2.5, CO, SO2, Pb, and NO2. For each
of these pollutants, EPA has established national air quality
standards to protect public health. When the AQI reaches 100,
this indicates that a concentration has exceeded the standard set
forth by the EPA. Generally, ground-level O3and airborne PM arethe two pollutant types that pose the greatest threat to human
health in this country, and specifically for Arizona. EPAs AQI
website AIRNow is found atwww.airnow.gov.
Figure 1 Chart of AQI Levels
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Each category in Figure 1 corresponds to a different level of health concern. The six levels of health
concern are:
"Good" AQI is 0 - 50. Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no
risk to human health.
"Moderate" AQI is 51 - 100. Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there maybe a moderate health concern for a very small number of people. For example, people who are
unusually sensitive to O3may experience respiratory symptoms.
"Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" AQI is 101 - 150. Although general public is not likely to be
affected at this AQI range, people with lung disease, older adults, and children are at a greater
risk from exposure to O3, whereas persons with heart and lung disease, older adults, and
children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air.
"Unhealthy" AQI is 151 - 200. Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects,
and members of the sensitive groups may experience more serious effects.
"Very Unhealthy" AQI is 201 - 300. This would trigger a health alert signifying that everyone
may experience more serious health effects.
"Hazardous" AQI greater than 300. This would trigger a health warning of emergency
conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.
2.2 National Ambient Air Quality Standards
The NAAQS were first set by the EPA with the CAA in 1970 and are continuously evaluated and updated
based on current scientific research on the effects of pollution exposure to the population. Focus is
placed on those groups who are sensitive to air pollution. Table 1 shows the current NAAQS.
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Table 1Current NAAQS
(Source: USEPA TTN NAAQS)
PollutantPrimary/
Secondary
Averaging
TimeLevel Form
Carbon Monoxide
(CO)primary
8-hour 9 ppm Not to be exceeded more
than once per year1-hour 35 ppm
Lead (Pb)primary and
secondary
Rolling 3
month average0.15 g/m3 Not to be exceeded
Nitrogen Dioxide
(NO2)
primary 1-hour 100 ppb98thpercentile, averaged
over 3 years
primary and
secondaryAnnual 53 ppb Annual Mean
Ozone (O3)primary and
secondary8-hour 0.075 ppm
Annual fourth-highest
daily maximum 8-hr
concentration, averaged
over 3 years
Particle
Pollution
PM2.5
primary Annual 12 g/m3 annual mean, averaged
over 3 years
secondary Annual 15 g/m3
annual mean, averaged
over 3 years
primary and
secondary24-hour 35 g/m
3
98thpercentile, averaged
over 3 years
PM10primary and
secondary24-hour 150 g/m3
Not to be exceeded more
than once per year on
average over 3 years
Sulfur Dioxide
(SO2)
primary 1-hour 75 ppb
99thpercentile of 1-hour
daily maximum
concentrations, averaged
over 3 years
secondary 3-hour 0.5 ppmNot to be exceeded more
than once per year
Ambient concentrations to be compared to the NAAQS are defined under the Form column in Table 1
and are calculated based on the averaging time stated. For many of the pollutants, there is a primary
standard and a secondary standard. Primary standards provide public health protection, includingprotecting the health of "sensitive" populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly. Secondary
standards provide public welfare protection, including protection against decreased visibility and
damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings.
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An area may be designated as nonattainment, attainment, or unclassifiable based on exceedances to
the standard. Area designations occur after a revision to the NAAQS or at other times the EPA deems
appropriate.
A nonattainment area is one in which either the primary or secondary standard has been
violated and both the local agency and the EPA have acknowledged the area as being innonattainment. The EPA can designate that area as nonattainment with certain sanctions or
penalties being placed in order to bring that area into attainment. When EPA designates an
area as nonattainment, a State Implementation Plan (SIP) is put in place. A SIP outlines the
actions the state will take to improve air quality in the area. This can include instituting lower
maximum pollutant allowances for industrial processes, paving of roads, replacing aging
equipment, and other control strategies. If the controls outlined in the SIP do not achieve the
standard or are inadequate, the EPA has the option to develop a Federal Implementation Plan
(FIP) for the area.
An attainment area is one which is achieving the standards and no additional measures are
necessary.
An unclassifiable area is an area for which data are incomplete and do not support a designation
of attainment or nonattainment. Data may be incomplete due to lack of monitoring or
completeness criteria for the year.
It is important to understand the difference between an exceedance and a violation of a standard in
order to define area designation. An exceedance occurs when the pollutant concentration reaches a
level where the AQI is at or above 100 for a given time period. This is above the acceptable level that is
defined in the NAAQS, but does not necessarily indicate that the NAAQS have been violated.
For example, the 24-hour PM2.5NAAQS level of exceedance is 35 micrograms per cubic meter(g/m
3). If the concentration on a given day is above this level, an exceedance occurs, but a
violation of standard does not necessarily occur. The form by which the PM2.5 standard is
calculated is the 98thpercentile of samples averaged over three years. If the 24-hour average
for a day goes above the 35 g/m3 level, but the 98thpercentile averaged over three years is not
above 35 g/m3, then there is an exceedance for that day, but there is no violation of the
standard.
2.3 Monitoring Objectives
Ambient air monitoring has multiple purposes which have specific needs and requirements. There arethree basic monitoring objectives, each containing multiple aspects and purposes: NAAQS comparison
for regulatory comparison, research, and public information. There may be certain monitors which have
more than one purpose due to crossover between different networks. For example, a NAAQS
comparison monitor may also be used for research purposes in some circumstances.
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A.
NAAQS Comparison
The majority of ADEQs monitoring falls under the NAAQS comparison category. This monitoring
is governed by the CAA and is explained under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 40 part 58.
This monitoring is required based on rules spelled out in the CFR, including: total emissions in an
area, population of an area, attainment/nonattainment areas, population weighted emissions,traffic counts, and pollutant point sources. ADEQ designates these monitors as SLAMS. These
are long term monitors that operate for the primary purpose of comparison to the NAAQS and
are used for regulatory decision making. They may also support compliance with air quality
standards and emissions strategy development, and provide air pollution data to the general
public in a timely manner. The SLAMS network includes monitors at stations with network
affiliations such as NCore, PAMS, or Speciation, but does not include Special Purpose Monitors
(SPM) and other monitors used for non-regulatory or industrial monitoring purposes. Once
monitoring occurs, EPA designates areas as attainment or nonattainment based on the
comparison of observed concentrations with the NAAQS.
B.
Research
ADEQ operates a range of monitors used mainly for research purposes. These instruments may
not be regulated by the EPA as part of the NAAQS, but represent various precursor and toxic
pollutants. The programs that fall under research include PAMS, NATTS, CSN, IMPROVE, urban
air toxics monitoring program (UATMP), and NCore. PAMS, NATTS, CSN, and IMPROVE will be
discussed at length in this report (Sections III and IV). These programs are required by EPA as
part of a national network of instruments, but many of the pollutants measured are not
specifically regulated. Due to the cross over between NCore and criteria pollutants, a brief
description of NCore is provided below. Crossover also exists between UATMP and NATTS andis also described below.
o NCore is a multi-pollutant network throughout the whole nation that integrates several
advanced measurement systems for particles, pollutant gases, and meteorology. The stations
are equipped with several measurement systems to monitor particulate matter (PM2.5,
PM10, and PM10-2.5), O3, CO, SO2, total reactive oxides of nitrogen (NOy), and basic meteorological
parameters (temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and relative humidity). The NCore
stations should be perceived as developing a representative report card on air quality across the
nation, capable of delineating differences among geographic and climatological regions. There
are approximately 83 NCore stations nationwide. NCore meets a number of important dataneeds: improved flow and timely reporting of data to the public, including supporting air quality
forecasting and information systems such as AIRNow; continued determination of NAAQS
compliance; improved development of emissions control strategies; enhanced accountability for
the effectiveness of emission control programs; and more complete information for scientific,
public health, and ecosystem assessments.
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Emphasis of NCore is placed on high sensitivity instruments with the capability to detect low
levels of the precursor gases CO, SO2, and NOy. These gases play important roles in the
formation of atmospheric O3, air toxics, and PM, which are linked to human health issues. This
interconnection among distinct air quality issues requires an integrated multiple pollutant air
quality monitoring and management approach which NCore successfully incorporates. ADEQ
supports the NCore network by monitoring all required pollutants at its Phoenix JLG Supersite.
Concentration data will be shown and analyzed in Section II of this document.
o UATMPis a subset of the Air Toxics program, which includes NATTS, school air toxics monitoring
initiative (SATMI), and community scale air toxics ambient monitoring (CSATAM) projects. All
programs that are a part of Air Toxics utilize similar monitoring methods and are therefore
directly comparable. All have similar monitoring objectives of characterizing toxics in an area of
interest. UATMP specifically looks at toxics trends in urban areas. Concentration data will be
shown and analyzed in Section III of this document.
C.
Public Information
Data generated by ADEQs SLAMS monitors for regulatory compliance are reported to AIRNow
on an hourly basis to show real-time conditions to the public. AIRNow data are used to report
the AQI only, not to show regulatory status of an area.
ADEQ also operates networks that do not have EPA approved monitoring techniques, for the
purpose of providing public health and visibility information to the general public. Although
these networks do not use approved monitoring techniques, they give the public a general
understanding of current air quality in their area. These networks do not report data to
AIRNow.
For public health, a network of temporary PM2.5monitors without an EPA method code are used
to provide air quality conditions to the public in areas that do not require monitoring under the
CAA or in the CFR. These areas are mainly located in the northeastern part of Arizona and are
often impacted by summer wildfires. These monitors can be easily deployed around a wildfire
to describe the impacts that it has on air pollution for the local population. There are also
monitors located in areas where wood burning is the main source of heating in the winter.
Wildfires and wood burning create small particulates that are harmful to human health.
Information regarding these portable particulate monitors can be found at
http://phoenixvis.net/PPMmain.aspx.
In the Phoenix metropolitan area, ADEQ operates a variety of instruments used to determine
the visibility on a daily basis. Data and pictures for visibility will be shown and analyzed under
Section IV of this document.
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3.0 Quality Assurance
ADEQ sustains a quality system as required by EPA to ensure high quality data are produced that meet
the users needs. The EPA primarily specifies the quality assurance (QA) requirements for operating
SLAMS, SPM, CSN, NCore, NATTS, PAMS, and prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) air monitors
in 40 CFR Part 58 Appendix A, the Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement Systems:
Volume II: Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Program, technical assurance documents (TADs), and other
supporting guidance documents. In response, ADEQ develops quality assurance plans for air monitoring
networks, which provide detailed information regarding the specifics of each air monitoring network
and how data will be managed. Components of ADEQs quality system include, but are not limited to:
ADEQ being established as the primary quality assurance organization (PQAO) for the criteria
and non-criteria pollutant air monitoring data collected and reported to EPAs Air Quality System
(AQS) database.
An agency-level Quality Management Plan (QMP), which is an umbrella document that details,in broad terms, the strategies used to carry out QA/QC in environmental data collection
activities.
Division-level quality assurance program plans (QAPPs) for each major, ongoing air monitoring
network. Each QAPP describes:
o purpose for operating the monitoring station or network
o data quality objectives (DQOs) and/or measurement quality objectives (MQOs) along
with data quality indicators (DQIs) that specify the amount of tolerable error in the data
using statistical metrics
o variety of regularly occurring quality control (QC) checks along with pass/fail criteria
o types of QA assessments and reports needed from the network
o data validation processes and data reporting requirements
Unit-level standard operating procedures (SOPs) that document procedures to assure that work
products are reliable, reproducible, and consistent in quality. SOPs also serve to clearly
communicate any process customizations in-use, providing a means of attesting that work
products are credible, legally defensible, and meet or exceed our customers and/or
stakeholders needs or requirements.
ADEQ uses a multi-tiered approach to data validation to ensure consistent quality. It requires all data to
move through different levels of QA by separate reviewers. Data have five different levels associated
with each tier level.
Raw Original unchanged data recorded by the sampler or produced by laboratory analysis.
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Level 1 Data are reviewed programmatically and automatically using software written to flag
data upon receipt to ADEQs database. The data are flagged valid or invalid based on certain
instrumentation parameters.
Level 2 Data are reviewed manually on a weekly basis by an initial data reviewer to flag any
discrepancies found. This gives the data a preliminary validation decision and identifies outliers,
anomalous data and instrumentation/laboratory issues.
Level 3 Data are reviewed manually on a quarterly basis by the final data reviewer by looking
at the data spatially and temporally. QC measures are incorporated, environmental events are
identified, and a final determination on the validity of data is made.
Certified Data are uploaded to AQS and are certified annually by ADEQ by ensuring compliance
with programmatic goals of data completeness, data precision, and data bias.
Periodically, EPA publishes reports for some of the criteria pollutant networks, and potentially non-
criteria pollutant networks, that rate and/or rank monitoring organizations performance over a three-
year period. The QA Team, as well as other personnel in the data management and quality assurance
(DM&QA) unit, reviews these reports to gauge how well ADEQs networks are performing with those
across the nation. If needed, corrective actions are taken to ensure data of the highest quality possible
are collected.
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4.0 Monitoring Location Summary
Table 2contains some of ADEQs sites associated metadata including the site number from EPAs AQSdatabase, the city the site is located, the main monitoring objectives for the site, the site coordinate
location, and which parameters were recorded at the site in 2014.
Table 2 Site Index
Site NameAir Quality
System IDLocation
Monitoring
Objective(s)
Lat.
Long.
(Deg.)
Parameters Recorded
ADEQ Building None Phoenix, AZ Visibility 33.4483,
-112.088
Digital High Resolution Image
Ajo 04-019-0001 Ajo, AZ NAAQS Comparison 32.3820,
-112.858
PM10, Wind, Temp/RH
Alamo Lake 04-012-8000 Alamo Lake State
Park, AZ
NAAQS Comparison 34.2439,
-113.559
O3, PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2
Banner Mesa Medical
Center
None Mesa, AZ Visibility 33.4335,
-111.843
Digital High Resolution Image
Bullhead City 04-015-1003 Bullhead City, AZ NAAQS Comparison 35.1539,
-114.566
PM10
Chiricahua Entrance
Station
04-003-8001 Willcox, AZ Visibility 32.0094,
-109.389
IMPROVE
Douglas Red Cross 04-003-1005 Douglas, AZ NAAQS Comparison 31.3492,
-109.54
PM10, PM2.5, Temp/RH, Wind,
IMPROVE
Dysart 04-013-4010 Surprise, AZ Visibility 33.6370,
-112.339
Bscat/PM2.5, Temp/RH
Estrella 04-013-8005 Goodyear, AZ Visibility 33.3833,
-112.373
Bscat/PM2.5, Temp/RH
Estrella Mountain
Community College
None Avondale, AZ Visibility 33.4836,
-112.350
Digital High Resolution Image
Flagstaff Middle School 04-005-1008 Flagstaff, AZ NAAQS Comparison 35.2061,
-111.653
O3, PM2.5 (EBAM)
Globe Highway 04-007-1002 Winkelman, AZ NAAQS Comparison 33.002,
-110.765
Pb, Temp/RH, Wind
Grand Canyon NP HanceCamp
04-005-8102 Grand Canyon, AZ Visibility 35.9731,-111.984
IMPROVE
Greer Water Treatment
Plant
04-001-8001 Greer, AZ Visibility 34.0583,
-109.440
IMPROVE
Hayden Old Jail 04-007-1001 Hayden, AZ NAAQS Comparison 33.0062,
-110.786
SO2, PM10, Temp/RH, Wind
Ikes Backbone 04-025-8104 Strawberry, AZ Visibility 34.3406,
-111.683
IMPROVE
JLG Supersite 04-013-9997 Phoenix, AZ NAAQS Comparison/
Research
33.5038,
-112.096
CO, NO2, NOy, O3, SO2,
Carbonyl, VOC, SVOC, Pb-
PM10, / PM10 metals
speciation, PM10, PM10-2.5,
PM2.5, PM2.5speciation,
Temp/RH, Wind, IMPROVE
Meadview 04-015-9000 Meadview, AZ Visibility 36.0193,
-114.068
IMPROVE
Miami Golf Course 04-007-8000 Miami, AZ NAAQS Comparison 33.4190,
-110.83
Pb, PM10, Temp/RH, Wind
Miami Jones Ranch 04-007-0011 Miami, AZ NAAQS Comparison 33.3853,
-110.867
SO2
Miami Ridgeline 04-007-0009 Miami, AZ NAAQS Comparison 33.3992,
-110.859
SO2
Miami Townsite 04-007-0012 Miami, AZ NAAQS Comparison 33.3973,
-110.874
SO2
Nogales Post Office 04-023-0004 Nogales, AZ NAAQS Comparison 31.3372,
-110.937
PM10,PM2.5, Temp/RH, Wind
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Site NameAir Quality
System IDLocation
Monitoring
Objective(s)
Lat.
Long.
(Deg.)
Parameters Recorded
North Mountain Summit None Phoenix, AZ Visibility 33.5855,
-112.072
Digital High Resolution Image
Organ Pipe National
Monument
04-019-005 Ajo, AZ Visibility 31.950,
-112.80
IMPROVE
Paul Spur Chemical Lime
Plant
04-003-0011 Paul Spur, AZ NAAQS Comparison 31.366,
-109.73
PM10, Temp/RH, Wind
Payson Well Site 04-007-0008 Payson, AZ NAAQS Comparison 34.230,
-111.33
PM10, PM2.5 (EBAM), Temp/RH,
Wind
Petrified Forest National
Park
04-001-0012 Petrified Forest
NP, AZ
Visibility 35.077,
-109.77
IMPROVE
Phoenix
Transmissometer
Receiver
None Phoenix, AZ Visibility 33.490,
-112.08
Bext, Temp/RH
Phoenix
Transmissometer
Transmitter
None Phoenix, AZ Visibility 33.525,
-112.10
Bext
Pleasant Valley Ranger
Station
04-007-8100 Young, AZ Visibility 34.091,
-110.94
IMPROVE
Prescott College AQD 04-025-8033 Prescott, AZ NAAQS Comparison 34.547,
-112.48
O3, PM2.5 (EBAM)
Queen Valley 04-021-8001 Queen Valley, AZ NAAQS Comparison 33.294,
-111.29
O3, NOy, VOC, Temp/RH,
Wind, IMPROVE
Rillito 04-019-0020 Rillito, AZ NAAQS Comparison 32.414,
-111.16
PM10, Temp/RH, Wind
Saguaro National Park
East
04-019-0021 Tucson, AZ Visibility 32.174,
-110.74
IMPROVE
Saguaro Nation Park
West
04-019-9000 Tucson, AZ Visibility 32.249,
-111.22
IMPROVE
Sedona Fire Station AQD None Sedona, AZ Public Information 34.868, -
111.763
PM2.5(EBAM)
South Phoenix 04-013-4003 Phoenix, AZ Research 33.403,
-112.08
VOC
Sycamore Canyon 04-005-8103 Flagstaff, AZ Visibility 35.141,
-111.97
IMPROVE
Tonto NationalMonument
04-007-0010 Roosevelt, AZ NAAQS Comparison 33.655,-111.11
O3, IMPROVE
Vehicle Emissions
Laboratory
04-013-9998 Phoenix, AZ Research 33.455,
-111.10
Bscat/PM2.5, Delta Temp,
Horizontal Solar Radiation,
Ultraviolet Solar Radiation,
Temp/RH, Wind
Yuma Supersite 04-027-8011 Yuma, AZ NAAQS Comparison 32.690,
-114.62
O3, PM10, PM2.5, Temp/RH,
Wind
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Figure 2The locations of ADEQs monitoring sites. Sites from other monitoring organizations are not included.
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Section II Criteria Pollutants
The six criteria pollutants as outlined in the CAA are discussed at length in this Section. The health
effects of each pollutant, the specific background of the pollutants in Arizona, and an explanation of
current monitoring techniques are provided. Also included is a discussion of 2014 data which shows a
history of the pollutant standards, compliance to the current standards, as well as data completeness for
the year. Additionally, a length of record trend analysis provides a history of the monitors operating in
Arizona in 2014. The trend analysis includes a qualitative summary of the trend and a quantitative
increase/decrease of the pollutant over the years. Lastly, a summary of the AQI values in 2014 for each
pollutant is presented.
1.0 Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is produced by the incomplete combustion
of fuels. It has a variety of adverse health effects that arise from its ability to chemically bind to bloodhemoglobin. Carbon Monoxide successfully competes with oxygen for binding with hemoglobin and
thereby impairs oxygen transport. This impaired transport leads to several central nervous system
effects, such as headache, fatigue, and dizziness. Chronic CO exposure also contributes to or
exacerbates arteriosclerotic heart disease. Chronic exposure to low levels of CO can lead todepression,
confusion,andmemory loss.
1.1 Background
According to the 2011 National Emissions Inventory
(NEI), in Arizona, 63 percent of CO emissions comefrom fires, 35 percent from mobile sources including
on-road motor vehicles, off-road vehicles,
construction equipment, and lawn and garden
equipment, with the remainder coming from point
and area sources. This pollutant has low background
levels, with the highest concentrations next to busy
streets, and elevated concentrations in locations
with significant amounts of emissions transported
from upwind areas. Concentrations peak from
November to January because emissions are highest
in cold weather. Automotive emissions of CO are
greatest when engines operate in open loop. This
occurs for longer periods of time in cold weather as
the engine attempts to warm up and because the
mixed layer of the atmosphere is most shallow in
wintertime due to decreased solar heating. Hourly
Figure 3 Map of ADEQs CO sitesADEQ Annual Ambient Air Assessment Report 2014 Page | 24
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concentrations tend to be at their maximum during the morning rush hour and between 6 p.m. and
midnight.
Emission controls have reduced overall CO emissions, and the standards have been achieved in the
metropolitan Phoenix area since 1996, in stark contrast to the first half of the 1980s when more than
100 exceedances were recorded each year. Similar improvements have occurred in Tucson, where thelast eight-hour exceedances were recorded in 1988. Equipping vehicles with catalytic converters and
electronic ignition systems was the most effective control, but significant reductions can also be
attributed to the vehicle emissions inspection program (beginning in 1976) and oxygenated fuels
(beginning in 1989). On Jan. 3, 2005, EPA re-designated the Phoenix metropolitan area to attainment
for the NAAQS for CO, and approved the attainment demonstration and maintenance plan showing
maintenance of the CO standard through 2015.
Due to the successful nature of the emission controls placed on CO sources, ADEQ only operated one CO
monitor in 2014 at its NCore station. Additional CO monitors are operated by other State and Local
agencies as required, but will not be discussed in this report.
1.2 Monitoring Methods
Carbon Monoxide is monitored continuously with a nondispersive infrared (IR) instrument. The IR light
passes through a gas filter correlation wheel that alternately uses a CO filled chamber and a chamber
with no CO present. The light path travels through a sample cell following the correlation wheel and
continues on toward an IR light detector which converts the light into an electrical signal. Carbon
Monoxide absorbs a specific wavelength of IR light and the energy loss through the sample cell is
compared with the zero reference provided by the gas filter correlation wheel to produce an electrical
signal that is proportional to concentration. Raw data readings are retrieved by a data collection systemand stored in a database. Readings are averaged into hourly, daily, monthly, quarterly, and yearly
averages for data analysis.
1.3 Compliance/Summary of Design Values
On April 30, 1971, the EPA promulgated NAAQS for CO based on a criteria document published by the
U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare in March 1970. Identical primary (health-based) and
secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS for CO were set at 35 parts per million (ppm), one-hour average, and
at 9 ppm, eight-hour average, neither to be exceeded more than once a year. After the most recent
review of the CO NAAQS, on August 31, 2011, EPA proposed to retain the current primary standards.After review of the air quality criteria, EPA further concludes that no secondary standard should be set
for CO at this time. Table 3 summarizes the history of the NAAQS for CO during the period 1971-2011.
At present there are two primary standards for CO. The one-hour standard is 35 ppm and the eight-
hour standard is 9 ppm.
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Table 3 History of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for COduring the period 1971-2011
(Source: USEPA TTN NAAQS)
Final RulePrimary/
SecondaryIndicator
Averaging
TimeLevel Form
1971
36 FR 8186
Apr 30, 1971
Primary and
Secondary CO
1-hour
period35 ppm
Maximum, not to be exceeded
more than once in a year
8-hour
period9 ppm
Maximum, not to be exceeded
more than once in a year*
1985
50 FR 37484
Sept 13, 1985
Primary standards retained, without revision; secondary standards revoked.
1994
59 FR 38906
Aug 1, 1994
Primary standards retained, without revision.
2011
76 FR 54294
Aug 31, 2011
Primary standards retained, without revision.
*Second highest, non-overlapping 8-hour average concentration of 9 ppm
According to 40 CFR Part 50, compliance for both standards is determined by having no more than one
exceedance per year. EPA determines attainment of the standard by evaluating two calendar years of
data from each site. The highest of the annual second-highest values in a two-year period must not
exceed the standard of 35 ppm for the one-hour standard or 9 ppm for the eight-hour standard.
Table 4 and Table 5 below show the 1st
maximum and 2nd
maximum values for both the current primary
standards for the year 2013 and 2014. No exceedances of the one-hour or eight-hour standards were
recorded in 2013 and 2014. The CO monitor at JLG Supersite is considered to be in compliance for the
year 2014.
Table 4 CO One-Hour Compliance Summary
2013 to 2014 One-Hour CO Compliance Summary (in ppm)
(NAAQS primary one-hour standard 35 ppm)
Site Name
2013 2014Compliance
Value1stMax
Value
2ndMax
Value
1stMax
Value
2nd Max
Value
Maricopa County
JLG Supersite 3.2 2.9 3.1 2.7 2.9
Number of Sites in Violation of the NAAQS 0
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Table 5 CO Eight-Hour Compliance Summary
2013 to 2014 Eight-Hour CO Compliance Summary (in ppm)
(NAAQS primary eight-hour standard 9 ppm)
Site Name
2013 2014Compliance
Value1
stMax
Value
2nd
Max
Value
1st
Max
Value
2nd
Max
ValueMaricopa County
JLG Supersite 2.0 1.9 2.2 2.1 2.1
Number of Sites in Violation of the NAAQS 0
1.4 Trends
Monitoring of CO throughout the state of Arizona contains the longest history of all the criteria
pollutants. Most of this long-term monitoring was located in the highly urbanized areas of Phoenix and
Tucson, and several of these CO sites contain monitoring records dating back to the 1970s. For the
purpose of this report, the examination of CO trends will include the ADEQ monitors only. ADEQ hasmonitored CO at JLG Supersite since 1999. Figure 4 and Figure 5 show a decreasing trend in Phoenix for
primary one-hour and eight-hour CO standards respectively, both being under the NAAQS since
monitoring started at the location. Most of the improvements can be attributed to emission control
programs as stated in section 1.1. ADEQ started trace-level monitoring of CO in 2010 as part of the
NCore program.
Figure 4 CO One-Hour Average Trend
1999-2014: 78.2% decrease for JLG Supersite
Note: Some years might not satisfy completeness criteria.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
ppm
Year
CO 1999-2014Annual 2ndMaximum One-Hour Average
JLG Supersite
NAAQS 35 ppm
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Figure 5 CO Eight-Hour Average Trend
1999-2014: 82.2% decrease for JLG Supersite
1999-2013: 69.1% decrease in the National average (http://www.epa.gov/airtrends/carbon.html)
Note: Some years might not satisfy completeness criteria . 2014 national averages were not available at
the time of publication of this document. National average data obtained from:
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
910
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
ppm
Year
CO 1999-2014Annual 2ndMaximum Eight-Hour Average
JLG Supersite National Average
NAAQS 9 ppm
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1.5 Air Quality Index (AQI)
The CO daily AQI values for 2014 are categorized into the different levels of health concerns shown in
Table 6. Background levels of CO are near zero in areas without manmade sources. Levels of CO in more
populous areas are low and stable due to significant emissions controls placed on mobile sources (cars,
trucks, etc.). Emissions are highest in the winter months due to the increased time it takes engines to
warm up. Wintertime meteorology in Arizona is typified by stable conditions, therefore increasing AQI
values. A graphical representation of the CO Daily AQI values for 2014 is shown in Figure 6.
Table 6 CO Daily AQI Count 2014
AQI Values Levels of Health ConcernNumber of Days
JLG Supersite
0 - 50 Good 339
51 - 100 Moderate 0
101 - 150 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 0
151 - 200 Unhealthy 0
201 - 300 Very Unhealthy 0301 - 500 Hazardous 0
Missing 26
Total Days 365
Figure 6 CO Daily AQI 2014
Note: Dataare the daily AQI values for 2014 obtained fromhttp://www.epa.gov/airdata/ad_data.html
0
50
100
150
200
1/1/2014
2/1/2014
3/1/2014
4/1/2014
5/1/2014
6/1/2014
7/1/2014
8/1/2014
9/1/2014
10/1/2014
11/1/2014
12/1/2014
DailyAQI
Date
CO Daily AQI 2014
JLG Supersite
Good Modera te Unhea lthy for Sens iti ve Groups Unhea lthy
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2.0 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
NO2 is a reddish-brown gas that is formed by the oxidation of nitric oxide (NO) - a byproduct of
combustion. Adverse health effects associated with NO2include the risk of respiratory illness in children
and vary depending on the level of NO2and exposure time. Short exposure to low levels may result in
changes to airway responsiveness and decreased lung function in individuals with pre-existing
conditions. Irreversible changes may occur to lungs due to long-term exposure to higher levels. This
pollutant is also of concern in its reduction of visibility (it causes five percent of the visibility reduction in
Phoenix) and its contributory role in the photochemical formation of ground level O3and acid rain.
2.1 Background
Combustion emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) are
95 percent NO and five percent NO2. NO2
concentrations often serve as the indicator for the
larger group of nitrogen oxides since NO rapidlyoxidizes to NO2. In the 2011 NEI, Arizona NO
emissions were led by the transportation sector with
69 percent of the emissions from mobile sources
such as cars and trucks; 16 percent came from fuel
combustion processes such as utility power plants;
and 15 percent from other sources, including fires,
biogenic emissions from soil, stationary combustion
sources and other industrial processes. NO and NO2
concentrations are highest near major roadways.
NO concentrations decrease rapidly with distance
from the roadway, whereas NO2concentrations are
more evenly distributed because of their formation
through oxidation and their subsequent transport.
Concentrations of NO2 are highest in the late
afternoon and early evening of winter, when rush
hour emissions of NO are converted to NO2 under
relatively stable atmospheric conditions. Because NO reacts rapidly with O3, nocturnal O3concentrations
in cities are often reduced to near zero levels, while concentrations at background sites remain
higher.
NO emissions have been reduced over time using several different techniques. NO emissions from
motor vehicles have been reduced through retardation of spark timing, lowering the compression ratio,
exhaust gas recirculation systems, and three-way catalysts. Also, the vehicle inspection programs NOx
test for light-duty gasoline vehicles age 1981 and newer (in Phoenix only) has helped reduce emissions.
Reformulated gasolines also decrease NO emissions: Federal Phase II gasoline, by 1.5 percent for
ADEQ Annual Ambient Air Assessment Report 2014 Page | 30
Figure 7 Map of ADEQ's NO2sites
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vehicular and 0.5 percent for off-road equipment; California Phase 2 gasoline, by 6.4 percent for
vehicular; and 7.7 percent for off-road equipment.
Two NO2 monitors were operated by ADEQ in 2014. One is located in a local neighborhood which
represents a typical Phoenix area community. This monitor is part of the PAMS at JLG Supersite. The
second NO2monitor is located in Alamo Lake. This monitor is used to obtain background data and isclassified as a special purpose monitor (SPM). Additionally, two total NOymonitors were operated by
ADEQ. One was operated as part of the NCore station at JLG supersite, and the other at Queen Valley as
part of the PAMS network. However, NOyis not a criteria pollutant and is not further evaluated in this
section.
2.2 Monitoring Methods
NO2is monitored continuously with chemiluminescence instruments which operate on the principle that
when two chemicals combine, a unique wavelength of light is emitted. This wavelength of light is
detected using a light sensor, and the intensity of that light is a direct correlation to the concentration ofthe target chemical species (NO2). An NO2analyzer is based on the chemiluminescence of an excited
NO2molecule which determines NO and NOx(the sum of NO2and NO) concentrations. Readings from
all instruments are averaged into hourly, daily, monthly, quarterly, and yearly averages for data analysis.
Readings are retrieved by a data collection system and stored in a database.
2.3 Compliance/Summary of Design Values
The NAAQS for NO2was reviewed in 2010 and the original 1971 primary NAAQS of 53 parts per billion
(ppb) for the annual mean was retained. However, a new primary one-hour NO2standard of 100 ppb
was added. The annual standard is attained when the annual arithmetic mean concentration in acalendar year is less than or equal to 53 ppb. The one-hour standard is attained when the three-year
average of the 98thpercentile of the yearly distribution of one-hour daily maximum NO2concentrations
is below 100 ppb. A history of the NAAQS for NO2is provided in Table 7.
Table 7History of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for NO2during the period 1971-2010
(Source: USEPA TTN NAAQS)
Final RulePrimary/
SecondaryIndicator
Averaging
TimeLevel Form
1971
36 FR 8186Apr 30, 1971
Primary and
Secondary
NO2 Annual 53 ppb Annual arithmetic average
1985
50 FR 25532
Jun 19, 1985
Primary and secondary NO2standards retained, without revision.
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Final RulePrimary/
SecondaryIndicator
Averaging
TimeLevel Form
1996
61 FR 52852
Oct 8, 1996
Primary and secondary NO2standards retained, without revision.
2010
75 FR 6474
Feb 9, 2010
Primary
NO2 1-hour 100 ppb98
thpercentile, averaged over 3
years
Primary annual NO2standard retained, without revision.
The 2014 NO2annual mean was approximately a third of the 53 ppb standard at JLG Supersite and is in
compliance with the NAAQS. At Alamo Lake, the NO2 annual mean for 2014 was not available since
there were only six months of data, and did not meet EPAs data completeness requirements. Refer to
Table 8 for the 2014 annual means.
Table 8 NO2Annual Mean Compliance Summary
2014 NO2Annual Mean (in ppb)
(NAAQS Annual Mean 53 ppb)
Site Name
2014
Annual
Mean
Maricopa County
JLG Supersite 16.21
La Paz County
Alamo Lake1 N/A
#
Number of Sites in Violation of the NAAQS 01Monitor operated July through December 2014.#Indicates the data do not satisfy EPAs summary criteria.
N/A-Data are not available.
The NO2three-year average of the one-hour averages at the 98th
percentile was approximately
half of the 100 ppb standard at JLG Supersite and is in compliance with the NAAQS. ADEQ
began monitoring NO2at Alamo Lake in July of 2014; therefore, data are not available for the
years 2012 and 2013 and a three-year average cannot be calculated. Refer to Table 9 for the
2014 three-year averages.
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Table 9 NO2One-Hour Compliance Summary
2012 to 2014 One-Hour Average NO2 Compliance (in ppb)
(NAAQS One-Hour Average 100 ppb)
Site Name98thPercentile
Samples
Three-
Year
Average
2012 2013 2014
Maricopa County
JLG Supersite 58.0 57.0 52.0 56
La Paz County
Alamo Lake1 N/A N/A 6.3
#N/A
Number of Sites in Violation of the NAAQS 01Monitor operated July through December 2014.#Indicates the data do not satisfy EPAs summary criteria.
N/A-Data are not available.
2.4 Trends
ADEQ began monitoring for NO2 in Phoenix at JLG Supersite in 1993. However, data are not readily
available in AQS prior to 1999. As a result, the assessment of trends in NO2uses a period of sixteen
years from 1999 to 2014. Figures 8 and 9 illustrate the temporal variability of JLG Supersite over the
1999 to 2014 period in the form of annual means and one-hour averages at the 98th
percentile. The NO2
trend can be described as decreasing over this sixteen-year period. Alamo Lake is not included in these
graphs since there are only six months of data available from when monitoring began there in 2014.
Figure 8 NO2Annual Mean Trend
1999-2014: 48.1% decrease for JLG Supersite
Note:Some years might not satisfy completeness criteria.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
ppb
Year
NO21999-2014
Annual MeanJLG Supersite
NAAQS 53 ppb
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Figure 9NO2One-Hour Average Trend
1999-2014: 37.8% decrease for JLG Supersite
2000-2013: 29.0% decrease in the National Average (http://www.epa.gov/airtrends/nitrogen.html)
Note:Some years might not satisfy completeness criteria. 2014 national averages were not available at
the time of publication of this document.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90100
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
ppb
Year
NO21999-2014Annual 98th Percentile of Daily Max 1-Hour Average
JLG Supersite National Average
NAAQS 100 ppb
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2.5 Air Quality Index (AQI)
The NO2daily AQI values for 2014 are categorized into the different levels of health concerns in Table
10. Background levels of NO2are near zero in areas without manmade sources. Levels of NO2in more
populous areas are low and stable due to significant emissions controls placed on mobile sources (cars,
trucks, etc.). Emissions are highest in the winter months due to the NO2from mobile sources in stable
atmospheric conditions, which can elevate AQI values. A graphical representation of the NO2Daily AQI
values for 2014 is shown in Figure 10.
Table 10 NO2Daily AQI Count 2014
AQI Values Levels of Health ConcernNumber of Days
Alamo Lake* JLG Supersite
0 - 50 Good 174 354
51 - 100 Moderate 0 5
101 - 150 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 0 0
151 - 200 Unhealthy 0 0
201 - 300 Very Unhealthy 0 0301 - 500 Hazardous 0 0
Missing 10 6
Total Days 184 365
*184 possible monitoring days.
Figure 10 NO2Daily AQI 2014
Note: Dataare the daily AQI values for 2014 obtained fromhttp://www.epa.gov/airdata/ad_data.html
0
50
100
150
200
1/1/201
4
2/1/201
4
3/1/201
4
4/1/201
4
5/1/201
4
6/1/201
4
7/1/201
4
8/1/201
4
9/1/201
4
10/1/201
4
11/1/201
4
12/1/201
4
DailyAQI
Date
NO2Daily AQI 2014
Alamo Lake JLG Supersite
Good Mode ra te Unhea lthy for Se ns iti ve Groups Unhea lthy
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3.0 Ozone (O3)
Ozone is a colorless, slightly odorous gas that is both a natural component of the upper atmosphere and
a key air contaminant in the lower atmosphere. In the stratosphere, O3 blocks harmful ultraviolet
radiation. In the lower atmosphere, its photochemical formation by the reaction of volatile organic
compounds (VOC), hydrocarbons (HC), and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), leads to concentrations harmful to
people, animals, plants, and materials (plastics, tires, o-rings). In both animals and humans, O3causes
significant physiological and pathological changes at concentrations present in many urban
environments. Short-term (one to two hours) exposure to concentrations in the range of 100 ppb to
400 ppb induce changes in lung function, including increased respiratory rates, increased pulmonary
resistance, decreased volume of air, and changes in lung mechanics. Symptomatic responses in
exercising adults include throat dryness, chest tightness, substernal pain, coughing, wheezing, pain on
deep inspiration, shortness of breath, and headache. These symptoms also have been observ